Genre `Studies- Antagonist

 

ANTAGONIST

·         Antagonist word made from Greek word “Antagonistes” which means opponent, competitor or rival.

·         The major character in opposition to the hero or protagonist of a drama.

·         It is common to refer to an antagonist as a villain, against whom a hero fights in order to save himself or others.

·         In some cases, an antagonist may exist within the protagonist that causes an inner conflict or a moral conflict inside the mind. The inner conflict is a major theme of many literary works, such as

1.      Doctor Faustus, by Christopher Marlowe

2.      Hamlet by William Shakespeare

3.      A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

·         Generally, an antagonist appears as a foil to the main character, embodying qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of the main character. Example: Othello by William Shakespeare.

·         The character of Iago in Shakespeare’s “Othello” is an example of an antagonist.

·         Iago stands as one of the most notorious villains of all time, having spent all of his time plotting against Othello, the protagonist, and his wife Desdemona. Through his evil schemes, Iago convinces Othello that his wife has been cheating on him, and even convinces him to kill his own wife despite her being faithful to him. The thing that separates Iago from other antagonists is that we do not really know why he wants to destroy Othello.

FUNCTIONS OF ANTAGONIST:

·         Conflict is a basic element of any plot.

·         The presence of antagonist alongside a protagonist is vital for the typical formula of a plot.

·         The antagonist opposes the protagonist in his endeavors, and thus the conflict ensues (result).

·         The protagonist struggles against the antagonist, taking the plot to a climax.

·         The conflict is resolved with the defeat of the antagonist (or) as in tragedies, with the downfall of the protagonist.